Six posts for Maori in Government reshuffle

By VERNON SMALL, deputy political editor

Labour's Maori MPs are the big winners in Helen Clark's post-election reshuffle, securing six posts in her new line-up.

The expanded Executive of 28 ministers and undersecretaries makes it the biggest Executive since 1990, which was immediately attacked by the Opposition as politically motivated.

In the last term there were officially 26 in the Executive, although Phillida Bunkle was not replaced after being sacked as a minister.

While most senior ministers retain their posts, the biggest surprise was Marian Hobbs' loss of the high-profile Broadcasting portfolio to fourth-ranked Steve Maharey. She picks up Disarmament and Arms Control, as well as associate roles in Foreign Affairs. She also gets the newly established role of Urban Affairs, working on issues such as air quality, water quality, urban transport and infill housing.

Six of the seven Maori MPs now have a role in the Executive.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Youth Affairs Minister John Tamihere are inside the Cabinet and there are two more Maori ministers outside the Cabinet - Tariana Turia (Community and Voluntary Sector) and Dover Samuels (Associate Tourism). Mr Samuels was an undersecretary at the end of the last term after being dumped as Maori Affairs Minister in 2000.

The chairman of Labour's Maori caucus, Mita Ririnui, is promoted to undersecretary for Corrections, Conservation and Treaty Negotiations.

Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta is one of three parliamentary private secretaries - a new non-executive tier based on a British model. They will receive no extra pay but will act as "trainees" assisting specific ministers.

Christchurch MP Tim Barnett will assist the Justice Minister on human rights issues and the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and New Lynn MP David Cunliffe assists the Finance Minister and Commerce Minister.

Helen Clark said she "had had the pocket calculator out" and the proportion of Maori in the Executive roughly reflected their strength in the caucus.

"I regret that at this point I could not see that a third one was able to go into Cabinet.

"Merit comes generally first. But you must also be mindful where there are sectors of society which have long given your movement a great deal of support that they expect full consideration."

She had also looked at the North Island-South Island balance, the ratio of Auckland members and the number of women.

There should be one or two more women in the Cabinet and she would address that in the future.

Inside the Cabinet, new minister Chris Carter has taken over Conservation and Local Government from retiring minister Sandra Lee. He also gets Ethnic Affairs.

Ruth Dyson adds ACC and Women's Affairs to the disabilities responsibilities she held last term as a minister outside the cabinet.

Mr Tamihere takes Youth Affairs, Statistics and Land Information.

The Transport portfolio moves from Mark Gosche - whose wife is seriously ill - to Paul Swain. Mr Gosche picks up Corrections.

Mr Swain passes the Commerce portfolio to Lianne Dalziel, who will also be an Associate Justice Minister. Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton holds on to the Economic Development portfolio and is ranked third in the new Cabinet. He will drive the drug and youth suicide strategy as an Associate Health Minister.

Margaret Wilson takes Courts.

Outside Cabinet, former whip Rick Barker becomes Customs Minister and holds associate roles in Social Services, Employment and Justice.

Long-serving New Plymouth MP Harry Duynhoven finally wins an Executive role, becoming an Associate Transport Minister with responsibility for civil aviation and maritime safety. He will also be Associate Energy Minister.

West Coast MP Damien O'Connor will be an Associate in Agriculture, Rural Affairs, Health and Immigration.

Mangere MP Phillip Field is one of the two parliamentary under-secretaries. He will work in the Pacific Island affairs, social services and justice portfolios,

Helen Clark said the size of the Executive compared favourably with those over the past 18 years.

"There's a ton of work. The thing that worries me about ministerial performance is how overworked a lot of people are."

She would take a fresh look at responsibilities further into the term.

It was better to make changes after four to five years than after less than three years, she said.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters noted that more than half the Labour caucus were now enjoying extra benefits at taxpayers' expense.

"This is a classic case where size is a disadvantage," Mr Peters said.

National deputy leader Roger Sowry said the expanded line-up was the most expensive since the 1980s.

It was also a slap in the face for United Future's Peter Dunne, who had campaigned for a reduction to 18.

"What we have is a raft of custom-designed job titles so that everyone can be in the Executive, rather than Clark choosing the best performers," Mr Sowry said.

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